UNLESS you're Lionel Messi, 50 goals in three years is an impressive return by any striker's standards.

It is a milestone few forwards reach for a single club in the non-league game these days.

So it is a landmark Boston United striker Spencer Weir-Daley is justifiably proud of. He has just one regret: He didn't get there sooner.

"I enjoy them all and hopefully there are plenty more to come. It would have been nice to get there a bit sooner, but I finally made it," reflected Weir-Daley, who reached his half-century of Boston goals at Corby Town on New Year's Day.

Weir-Daley certainly would have broken the 50-goal barrier sooner had he not left the club in the summer of 2011 as he chased a move to the Blue Square Bet Premier.

But a spell at Andy Sinton's Telford did not go according to plan and by January 2012 he found himself back with the Pilgrims under Jason Lee and Lee Canoville.

The first game of his second spell was an FA Trophy tie at Dartford and Weir-Daley scored early on to give Boston the lead.

The Pilgrims went on to lose 4-2, but it is still a day he will not forget thanks to the welcome he received from the travelling fans.

"That was definitely one I remember," he recalled. "I don't normally feel nervous before games, but I felt nervous before that one, I don't know why.

"I was coming back to the club and for me to get a goal so early, on my 'second debut', was a great feeling.

"I wouldn't say it was awkward, but I did wonder how the fans would respond because I had left, although they were for very honest reasons.

"After I came back, it was good to hear them chanting my name, even before I scored that goal. It was a really good feeling and one I won't forget."

Weir-Daley has remained a vital player for the Pilgrims since.

While his eight league goals so far this season leaves him behind fellow strikers Marc Newsham and the now departed Mark Jones, Weir-Daley is a player who creates almost as many chances as he converts.

But as a typical striker, goals are what the 27-year-old judges himself by.

"There are quite a few favourites," he said "I'm quite busy like that, I do count the goals.

"My first goal for Boston (against North Ferriby) got me enjoying football again, so that was special. And there was that one against Dartford.

"I remember a few, there was a nice one against Harrogate which stands out.

"I enjoy all the goals and I keep all the stats in my phone – right foot, left foot, headers – I take pride in all of them."

Despite dropping back down to Blue Square Bet North, Weir-Daley has no regrets about returning to the Jackmans Stadium, a place where he feels at home.

"I've had a good year since I came back and I've been settled with my football," he added.

"I wasn't at my sharpest last season. I was playing at probably 70-80 per cent fit.

"But I'm feeling good this season, it's been a little bit stop-start with the games I've missed through injury and suspension, but I'm enjoying my football.

"We've had some disappointing results, but we've shown signs that we can be a top five team."